Dear friend,

It’s hard to believe, but the spring legislative session is behind us. I’m proud of all we accomplished in Springfield in service of the people of our community and Illinois as a whole.

Read on to learn about measures I passed this year, including a plan to track firefighter safety, expanded dual credit education and more, as well as resources and district updates.

The work doesn’t stop here. Already, I’ve started engaging community members, talking with advocates and gathering information to inform next year’s legislative agenda. I invite you to contact my office to discuss the issues most important to you — give us a call at 847-214-8864 or visit SenatorCristinaCastro.com.

As always, it’s been an honor to represent you in the Illinois Senate. I wish you and your family a safe, healthy and happy summer!

All the best,

Cristina Castro
Majority Caucus Whip
State Senator, 22nd District

Legislative updates

Expanding dual credit education

As interest in dual credit programs continues to grow, I worked with our community colleges, universities and school districts to pass a law expanding these opportunities. House Bill 2967, signed into law this week, will give students more opportunities to earn college credit during high school, saving them time and money and putting them on a fast track to success. Read more.

Improving transparency in firefighter death records

Firefighters are at a higher risk of cancer and other illnesses, but we need state-level data to guide interventions that protect their health and safety. That’s why I spearheaded a measure to allow the state to track and better understand the causes of death of these vital first responders. Whether a tragedy happens in the line of duty or from the lasting effects of firefighting over time, this data will shed light on where current gaps exist so we can intervene. Read more.

Protecting essential programs & employees from federal interference

As the federal government takes steps to dismantle agencies and lay off qualified public servants who administer key programs serving millions of Americans, I sponsored House Bill 1586 to protect state-administered federal programs from future interference. Read more.